THE REAL NATURE OF EVIL IS THE DENIAL OF ONE’S OWN SACREDNESS

“The reason there is evil in the world, is that we have forgotten who and what we really are.”

Last night I read this statement in a book, “The American Soul”, by Jacob Needleman:

“The real nature of evil is the denial, not only of one’s neighbor’s humanness and human rights, but of one’s own divinity, one’s own cosmic and moral nature as a human being created by God. To do evil to another is, first and foremost, to deny the sacredness of man.”

I agree. How could we do harm to what we ourselves consider to be sacred and holy? If we remembered who and what we are, if we remembered our own sacredness and the sacredness of all people, animals, the Earth and the entire Universe, there could be no such thing as evil. So it’s not so much about changing what we or others DO (though this effort cannot be ignored.) It is “first and foremost” about remembering who and what we ARE.

Needleman goes on to say that this denial is what is meant in scripture by “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”, which is allegedly the only “unforgivable sin”.

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An eclectic kind of guy, I'm a prolific Writer, a Speaker, Attorney, Teacher, a Doctor of Chiropractic, and an Interfaith Minister. I am available for Weddings, Funerals, Ceremonies, Speaking Engagements and Workshops (you can find out morehere). My books encompass Spirituality and Religion, Science, Mythology, Education, Healing, and issues of Tolerance, Compassion, and the restoration of Meaning in contemporary life. You can contact me at Andrew@AndrewCort.com